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Saturday, December 26, 2015

"Midnight Blue" by Louise Tucker

Pop Bits: As a mezzo-soprano, Tucker studied voice with the intent of performing in operas. It seemed like a clear-cut path for the British singer, but then she met record producers Charlie Skarbeck and Tim Smit. They had an idea for a project and asked Tucker to join. Their intent was to merge elements of classical music (including Tucker's voice) with synthpop. The resulting album was titled Midnight Blue and it contained original works along with adaptations like this first title-track single, which uses the melody from Beethoven's Sonata Pathétique. The song didn't do all that well in the UK where it hit #59. However, it was embraced by AC in the US and it reached #10. It crossed over to the Pop chart where it came close to the Top 40. The album did well enough on a worldwide basis to call for another one. After the Storm got issued late in the year, but it failed to capitalize on the success of the first album and disappeared quickly. This song would be Tucker's only one to chart in the US. Following the second album, Tucker decided to drop pop music and went back into the classical realm performing in operas.

ReduxReview: Of course I see the title and I think this is a cover version of Melissa Manchester's #6 hit from 1975. And with a name like Louise Tucker, I thought she might be a country crossover artist. Not...even...close. I played the song without having any background knowledge and right from the start I knew something weird was up with its "Chariots of Fire"-ish riff. Then a voice comes in and I wasn't sure if Louise wasn't a Lou. After a while, the female voice comes in and I recognize the melody. Oh...dear...god. What fresh hell is this? No. Just...no. I am utterly shocked this went Top 10 AC and almost hit the Pop Top 40. This is not the first time classical and pop have merged, but this possibly ranks among the worst examples to hit the chart. It's a crossover travesty.

ReduxRating: 1/10

Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Producer Skarbeck provides the male voice on this track. 2) Producer Smit later left the music industry and focused his attention on the Eden Project, a large environmental and garden complex in Cornwall, UK. It consists of several biomes that house plants from various climates. Various forms of art are also featured. The popular attraction opened in 2001. Combining his music past with his present project, Smit also began the Eden Sessions in 2002. The sessions are live performances from popular artists that perform at the complex. Over the years, artists like Amy Winehouse, Brian Wilson, and Elton John have participated. Scenes from the James Bond film Die Another Day were filmed at the site as well.